We Love a Great Success Story and the Power of Collaboration!?
Dear Luminaries,
Day in and day out, we try our best to help foster Luminary connections through the community we’re building and content we are delivering. We love when we hear from you about the “power of Luminary” and your experiences around collaboration, connection and impact through this community. It empowers us to keep going!????
As part of our?In This Together National Tour, we had our 3rd?stop in DC a few weeks ago. One our Members,?Ehime Eigbe, Founder of?Sweetkiwi,?who was attending, shared a great story with me about her experience as a Luminary Member. I thought I would share her ‘power of Luminary’ story and the opportunity our partnerships can deliver.
“Hi Cate, It was really great meeting you in person, especially after all the zooms! Thank you for all you do with Luminary!
I learned about the Walmart Open Call?program from our first conversation at Luminary when I became a Member through the Unilever Fellowship Program. I joined the Luminary/Walmart information session around “Is Your Product Shelf Ready” at Luminary’s urging. I found it quite enlightening and decided to apply. I received an email a few months later from Walmart saying I had been selected to pitch to the buyer on Open Call Day. I was really excited but also nervous that we were a small brand and might get rejected by the buyer. I joined all the information sessions and tried to learn from the people who had successfully made it through. Through these sessions, and the initial Walmart/Luminary event, I used this information to create my pitch deck.
A few weeks before pitch day, I had a shoot with Visa and Black Girl Ventures (also a Luminary partner), where I asked the Founder to go over my pitch with me. She mentioned she had a friend who worked at Walmart who could do a quick review as well. We set up a call which was really helpful and helped me perfect the pitch. At the end of the call, we found out he was the frozen buyer which we had not realized earlier because he assumed my product was refrigerated.
On pitch day, I met with another buyer from the Walmart team and we had great rapport, she recommended us to be selected. This earned us a final meeting with the?Walmart?team to present, everyone loved the brand and we were told we had been selected! The process from “accepted” to?being on the shelf was made easier because I had formed a great relationship with the buyer, but mostly none of it would have happened without your encouragement and the Luminary information sessions.
Closing Walmart really helped grow my confidence, after that I started applying to major retailers and we have been successful with them as well. We launch nationally with Kroger in a few months and are finalizing a deal with Target.”
Sweetkiwi
Sweetkiwi is delicious Whipped Greek Yogurt?TM?– an innovative, tasty frozen treat that combines great-tasting low-calorie treats that address gut health with effective dosages of protein, pre-and probiotics, and superfoods.?Learn more?
What a great success story and the power of collaboration! So, take advantage of the sessions we have to offer and the Members/Partners in this community. You never know what can happen – just ask Ehime!?
领英推荐
Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary
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American Express Business Class LIVE 2022 Conference
As a new Luminary partner, we’re delighted to share the?Business Class LIVE 2022 Conference?happening in person in New York City or virtually on July 20, 2022. Presented annually by?American Express, this event is dedicated to supporting small business owners and leaders from all walks of life. Here, you’ll meet leading experts, make connections that matter, and explore new opportunities – all while being inspired.?Click here to register!
Luminary Reflections Blog Post:
Many women feel uncomfortable bringing their whole selves to work. In a world filled with bias and inequity, it can be hard to exist freely while finding your voice. Some feel safer staying quiet and remaining more anonymous at work, keeping their coworkers from seeing what’s under the surface.?Read our three recommendations on how to find your voice in a world filled with bias and inequity. Click here to read now!
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